Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: DJ Drops the Beat
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Flip, flip, flip—
The pages of the thick book flipped rapidly.
Hundreds of pages rustled by with a cheerful sound, and soon the book closed.
Thud.
Once more.
Flip, flip, flip—
Thud.
Again.
Flip, flip, flip—
Thud.
I sat in the living room chair, repeatedly gripping the book in my hand and flipping through all its pages at once.
Flip, flip, flip—
Thud.
In the wide house, a boy named Daniel Jorgiola—DJ for short—wandered around, looking around curiously like it was all so novel. My eyes were fixed on the boy.
I stared blankly at him.
Flip, flip, flip—Thud.
Blankly.
"Anis, the book's all crumpled."
At Reisi's words from beside me, I looked down at the book in my grip. Constant pressure had not only crumpled it but bent it nearly at a right angle.
"Uh. Shit."
I'm screwed. This is the principal's book.
I tried bending the book back the other way to straighten it out, but the creases wouldn't disappear.
'...What do I do.'
This book, The Saintess's Hidden Secrets, was Fergus's most treasured possession. The psycho saintess kept killing people left and right, which turned me off, but anyway, it was Fergus's favorite novel.
'...Emergency!'
Fergus, Han U-sol, and Yoon Na-rin were currently out. They'd gone to fetch DJ's mother and question her about the drug organization.
DJ had been detailed about his mother but knew nothing about the organization selling the drugs.
He'd just given them money and bought the drugs as his mother instructed. The transaction spots changed every time, and he'd never even met the seller face-to-face.
A set time. Put the money in the designated spot—like an old mailbox or between bricks—and come back about 30 minutes later. In the meantime, the seller would take the money and leave the drugs. That's how it worked, so he didn't even know the seller's face.
The method was clean and thorough. Impressively professional. Not some small-time outfit.
Anyway, to track down and catch the organization selling those drugs, we had to start by finding DJ's mother and interrogating her.
And so, 30 minutes had passed since Fergus, Han U-sol, and Yoon Na-rin headed to the brothel to bring back DJ's mother. They were due back any minute.
It was obvious that if Fergus returned and found me holding his crumpled book, he'd blow up.
'...Hide it somewhere first.'
I stashed the book in the fridge.
If you're wondering why the fridge out of all places, I had no choice. The house was huge, but the furniture was sparse. There weren't many good hiding spots besides this.
Ten minutes later, the three who had gone out returned.
"Wasn't at the brothel."
"Looks like she ran."
"Seems someone saw you arresting Daniel. Word spread that heroes who don't even spare kids had come and dragged him off."
Fergus said, stroking his beard.
Come to think of it, arresting DJ had been pretty noisy. With all the commotion and heroes in armbands cuffing a kid and hauling him away, of course rumors would fly.
She must have learned her son got nabbed and fled, scared of getting questioned herself. What a pain.
No helping it. Now we'd have to pound the pavement to find DJ's mother.
DJ wore a complicated expression. Probably a mix of betrayal toward parents who'd abandoned him without hesitation and a sense of liberating relief that it was finally over.
"Hmm? Didn't see that book around here?"
"...Beats me."
I played dumb at Fergus's puzzled question as he tilted his head. Fergus began searching every nook and cranny of the house for the book.
About 20 minutes later, worn out from wandering around, Fergus plopped into a chair and muttered.
"...Can't find it anywhere. Oh well."
He gave up! Talk about lucky!
"We'll look for the book later. How about preparing dinner for now."
...Nope! Bad luck!
'...Emergency!'
This was a real emergency. Fergus rose and slowly headed to the kitchen.
I trailed after him, fidgeting like a dog desperate to poop. And inwardly scolded myself. Fergus always made our dinners. Checking the fridge was essential for that.
So why the hell did I choose to hide it there? What an idiotic blunder.
But who am I? The more dire the situation, the more confidence I needed. Superstar Anis Harper here—I'll improvise my way out. No way I'd give up without a fight.
"...Hm!? What's this!?"
Fergus yelled upon opening the fridge and peering inside.
"Wh-who did this!!"
Fergus stroked the cold, tattered book with trembling hands. His eyes gleamed with unforgiving fury toward the culprit.
I approached Fergus calmly and said.
"Looks like the kid got curious and messed with it a little."
"Wh-what! Messed with it!"
The old man spat his rage. I soothed him.
"Calm down. He's a kid with a painful past. Poor thing. Sad about your treasured book, but please be generous and let it slide."
"Hmm..."
At my persuasion, Fergus closed his eyes briefly to cool off.
"...No helping it."
The old man let out a faint sigh and said as much, and the corners of my mouth curved upward.
'...Lucky!'
After dinner, I went to my room and lay on the bed. From outside, I could hear DJ doing the dishes.
'...Bored.'
So bored. Extremely.
There was really nothing to do here to pass the time. Just a few of Fergus's dirty novels.
And worst of all, no phone data signal here.
Not just data—even calls barely connected. No TV, no computer, no comics, no phone. This place was hell.
'...Fuck. What total backwater shithole.'
Was the difference from downtown really this huge? I stomped my feet in frustration.
I was going crazy from boredom. Talking to someone might alleviate this killer tedium, but unfortunately, Han U-sol, Yoon Na-rin, and Fergus were out on evening patrol. Reisi had gone to bed right after dinner, tired.
I just rolled around on the bed, poking idly at my useless phone.
As I spent the time in a daze like that, I heard DJ finish the dishes and turn off the faucet.
Was I finally losing it from boredom? I yelled loudly.
"Hey!!!!! DJ!!!!!"
A few seconds later, DJ opened the door and poked his head in.
"...You called me?"
"Nah?"
"...Okay?"
"But why you talking informal?"
DJ's face twitched slightly.
"...I'll head out. Rest well."
"Sure."
Click. DJ closed the door. Ten seconds later, I yelled for him again.
"DJ!!!!"
DJ opened the door again.
"...What."
"There's potato chips in the kitchen cabinet if you rummage. Bring 'em."
"...Yes."
This time, DJ remembered polite speech and left the room. But I didn't miss it. The rotten expression that flashed between the closing door.
'...This is fun.'
"Here."
"Soda too."
"......"
Boredom melted away with interaction. Communication. I was communicating right now!
Sure, it was one-sided interaction, but if it was fun, who cared!
Look at DJ there, lips twitching and smirking—he was enjoying it too!
Exciting! So much fun!
"Soda here."
"Not this. Carbonated."
Watching DJ shuttle between my room and kitchen, his face rotting more and more, made it even funner. Tormenting—no, wrong. Communicating with others was this fun!
I put DJ through repeated dog training, cackling away. The more I did, the more his face crumpled. Now it was obvious at a glance he was pissed.
I did it! I could control that kid's emotions!
Time flew by as I played happily, and before I knew it, bedtime. Sure enough, fun stuff makes time vanish.
Time to sleep. I pulled the blanket up to my neck, got ready, cleared my throat, and called out.
"DJ!"
This was the era of DJ over Siri. Unlike dumb Siri that answered uncalled, DJ was way smarter and could do more.
"...What."
"Turn off the light."
"......"
Click—DJ flipped the light switch.
"Good work, DJ."
"......Done now?"
"Yeah. Get out."
I waved him off. DJ saw the gesture and hesitated.
"What, DJ. I said out."
Urging the dawdler, DJ turned and left the room, muttering softly.
"......Bitch."
...What? Did I hear wrong? I froze.
Our cutting-edge 8th-gen voice AI DJ wouldn't have a swearing function equipped. It felt like a hammer to the back of my head—I was stunned.
And after the brief daze came boiling rage.
"What!! Bitch!!! How dare you say something so vicious!!!"
"I held it in and did everything 'cause you're my lifelong benefactor, but there's no end!! Fuck off you bitch!! Don't you have hands or feet!!"
Shocking. To think my loyal servant DJ harbored such thoughts inside! No different from a traitor.
"What!!! You ungrateful!!! How dare you spout such nonsense at your benefactor!!!!"
"Ughhh! You crazy bitch!!! Get out!!!"
"What did you say!!!! Crazy bitch!!!!!"
"W-wait... stop!!!!!"
I burst from under the blanket, tackled DJ, pinned him to the floor. Then mounted his back, looped my arm around his neck, and yanked his upper body back with force.
"What! Don't mount!!! Don't grab!!! Don't break my back!!!"
"That's informal!!!!!!!"
"Aaaaaagh!!!!!!"
I applied more force. DJ's back bowed like a bow.
"...What are you two doing?"
Reisi, who had come out of her room by then, muttered upon seeing us. Woken by the noise, probably.
"Geh—help me!!!"
"Why polite to Reisi!!!"
More power into my arm,
Crack. Crack crack. Cheerful popping sounds started coming from DJ's back.
"...You two really act like siblings. Looks like you get along."
Reisi said, rubbing her eyes as she looked at us.
But with DJ's cheerful beat under me, Reisi's voice didn't reach as I danced atop it.
"DJ drop the beat!!!!!!!!!!"
"Fuckbitchaaagh!!!!!!!!!"
Afterward, another rumor began circulating in the slums.
The new heroes were ruthless enough to arrest even children without batting an eye.
And from the heroes' house, the nightly screams of a tortured child echoed out.